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Wednesday, 25 March 2015

TORQUIL MACLEOD - MEET ME IN MALMO (2010/2015)

Synopsis/blurb….

A British journalist
is invited to Malmö to interview an old university friend who is now one of
Sweden's leading film directors. When he discovers the directors glamorous film
star wife dead in her apartment, the Skåne County Police are called in to solve
the high-profile case. Among the investigating team is Inspector Anita
Sundström, who soon finds the list of suspects growing. As Anita battles to
discover the answers amid the antagonism of some of her colleagues, she even
begins to think that the person she is becoming attracted to could be the
murderer.

I've not read any Scandinavian set crime fiction for well
over a year and this one was slightly unusual insofar as the author, Torquil
MacLeod is an English-based Scotsman.

We start with a seemingly unconnected incident 25 years ago,
where a young student falls to her death from Durham Cathedral. Present day, we
pick up with a journalist, Ewan Strachan. Strachan’s in a dead-end job, but a
chance opportunity to interview former university friend and now successful
Swedish film director, Mick Roslyn sees him flying off to Malmo. On the morning
of his appointment with Mick, Strachan discovers Roslyn’s film star wife, Malin Lovgren dead
in their flat – murdered.

This now introduces us to the other main foil in our story –
Swedish detective, Anita Sundstrom. Sundstrom we soon discover is attractive,
capable and slightly disorganised in her personal life as well as single. She’s
a slightly under-valued member of the investigative team. Her boss, Erik Moberg is a
bit of a chauvinist, with a sometimes bull-dozing and blinkered approach to investigations……locate
suspect, decide likelihood of guilt, assemble facts to support hypothesis and
discount other avenues of enquiry. Sundstrom offers a more considered, balanced
approach to the investigation.

Strachan, also a person of interest as he discovered the victim,
manages to upgrade his journalistic gig with his newspaper to that of temporary
crime reporter as the story breaks back in his home town and his editor keeps
him in Malmo. Strachan’s fascination and attraction to Anita makes his
prolonged assignment an attractive one.

The investigation brings added pressure, given the high
profile identity of the victim. Inquiries indicate that Roslyn’s wife was
subject to the unwelcome attentions of a stalker. Further digging in the
direction of her husband, opens up other possibilities – a project Mick was working
threatened to throw an unwelcome spotlight on the still unsolved murder of
Swedish prime minister, Olof Palme back in the mid-80’s and the possible
involvement of extreme’s elements within the police service. Additionally Mick
had been playing away from home with his business partner’s girlfriend. Was
Mick’s affair serious enough to drive him to murder and was he setting up his
old friend, Strachan into the bargain. Did his partner suspect Roslyn’s
dalliances and exact a twisted revenge?

Plenty of possibilities for motive and murder. I must admit,
I was undecided as to the perpetrator and MacLeod skilfully kept me guessing
until the end and the reveal.

Great setting with an interesting mix of characters and a
bit of police politics thrown in, with some bristly characters butting heads.
Enough of Sundstrom’s personal life was offered to make her more than just a
detective and someone this reader warmed to and liked. Our other main character,
Strachan was interesting and sympathetic and the way they interacted with each
other, especially as Ewan felt an attraction to Anita added another layer of
intrigue to an extremely enjoyable mystery.

There’s more to come from Torquil MacLeod and his Swedish detective
Sundstrom in the future with additional books appearing soon. I'm hoping to keep
pace with this series going forward.

I was fortunate enough to receive a copy of this from the
publishers – McNidder and Grace. Their website is here. Meet Me in Malmo was originally self-published in 2010. The new edition is released tomorrow.

I know what you mean, sometimes I think the setting can be too ..... dark, grim, forbidding, allied with my no doubt incorrect perception of perpetually cold weather, harsh winters, unyielding landscape - I have to be in the mood for it.

Col, I'm with everyone here. You make this novel sound very interesting and intriguing. Besides, I liked the use of the word 'Malmo' in his titles, as you posted them in your interview with the author.

That is an interesting concept. A book set in Sweden for a Scottish challenge. My problem is that I have many many unread books set in Scandinavia. But ... I will put this on my list for the book sale.

Synopsis/blurb…… Rennie Beckman is a dishonored ex-cop with only two things on his mind: his new boat, the Triggerfish, and his hot...

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